First Things First

Good Evening World! I think, for most people, Sunday Evenings are always a little depressing. 48 hours never seems like enough time! This Sunday evening is not as bad, because I actually accomplished a thing or two today; which leads me to this blog post today.

I really think that one of the most important parts of having a nice home is keeping it clean and organized. Even the nicest furniture and decor, are going to be overshadowed by clutter and filth that fill the same room. As you can imagine, I was a little frustrated when my apartments started to fill with garbage, and clothes started piling up everywhere but where they belong. Today I woke up and I was on a mission to get myself together!

Just to give you an idea- this is how my closet looked last night:



It was a little embarrassing, but I think everyone has those projects in their home that just never seem to get done. Life happens, and before you know your closet looks like an episode of hoarders. Well after a little work on this cold Sunday I feel like something was acomplished:

I can see the floor, it's a miracle! I actually texted the before and after pictures to a friend, who probably thought I was out of my mind due to my excitement.

When it comes to closets, there is always room for design as well! Your clothes are beautiful, so organize them by color to display your style. Places like Wal-Mart, Target, and the Container store all have functional pieces that will keep you organized and stylish. I found my green cloth containers at Wal-Mart for only $9.00 a piece!

Now I know some people have closets so chaotic that they don't even know where to begin. I would suggest by starting with a bin for clothes to donate (because someone would be grateful for your things :) and another pile for clothes that need washed/dry cleaned. The easiest way to add style function to your closest is using hangers that all match. I recommend Ikea as an affordable place to find wood hanger's to give your space a boutique look.

I think these projects are the hardest part of everday life. Every home has a leaky faucet that has been dripping for months, or carpets that someone has been talking about ripping out for years. This projects are so important to accomplish before design comes into place. If you are reading this I challenge you to work on some piece of your home that needs some attention. Give yourself one week, and see what you are capable of improving. Best of luck everyone, and feel free to let me know what your projects are!

Two Years Later..

Isn't it funny how fast time goes by? I wrote my first post over 2 years ago, and I find myself quite embarrassed that I never followed through with my commitments. I am afraid that this is how life goes, but I hope that post number 3 does not take years to form.

Back to the main purpose of what this blog is, fantastic design! Lately I have been exploring what the wonderful city of Chicago has to offer us design nerds. Last weekend, during a trip to the vintage furniture stores in Andersonville, I picked up the most recent CS Interiors Magazine issue. I over heard Julie Fernstrom, the owner of Brimfield and lover of all things plaid, mention how truly pleased she was with this issue. Being a fan of Julie's store, I was eager to get home and see what great articles and inspiration I could find.

This issue did live up to its reviews, and if you are in Chicago I truly suggest checking out CS Interiors. One of my favorite articles highlights the design work of Summer Thornton. Summer is a young Chicago designer who uses color and pattern that creates a sense of fun and whimsy. Summer has paved her way over the last few years. You may recognize her from articles featuring her in Chicago Home and Garden, Apartment Therapy, and Chicago Tribune Magazine. She works in Chicago with just her Cousin Whitney Mersman, in their playfuly mature Lincoln Park studio. I think a lot of Summer's charm comes from her being a young adult from the country, who focuses as much on her family as she does on her career. In a city like Chicago, these types of people can be rare.

Summer's wonderful use of color is just what I needed in the freezing winter months. A beautiful reminder that our homes need must represent us, and that there is no excuse for the standard white apartment walls that dress too many of our homes. She touches on her past by using cultural and design references of her youth, which makes the design comforting in many ways.



The above pictures gives a view of Summer's inspiration; full of fashion, culture, and amazing architecture. So now it is our turn, what do we look at for inspiration? What colors make you feel at home?

I believe there are so many ways we can bring fun and function into our homes that is accessible to everyone. For 2011, this blog will be my virtual inspiration board as I find ways to make design easy. If you have a moment and would like to comment, I would love to hear how you use design to make your life and home more colorful!

Thank you to CS Interiors, and www.summerthorntondesign.com for the pictures.

Everyone has style

Well first off, if you are reading this then thank you. I am huge fan of 2 things- blogs and design, so why not mix them? I have been aware of aesthetics and designs since I was about 5 and I got to pick the blue paint chip that was going to covering my walls. Not only did I know what I did like, I definitely knew what I did not like. The couch in my living room covered in a floral print, something you might see in a funeral home. Well its been some years since then and I have been paying attention to every design detail ever since. Most important thing I have learned is that everyone has taste, their own design utopia in there head.
Media has brought the best out in peoples design ability. HGTV and TLC have made it very clear that will a few hundred dollars and some elbow grease, your design can shine. So why is design so important? I think it all boils down to individuality. There are billions of us roaming this earth, and it is easy to feel lost in the shuffle. But our homes should never leave us feeling lost, they should welcome us and remind us who we are as soon as we walk through that door.
This is exactly what design has done for me, coming home to my cheap tiny apartment grounds me. Between the pictures of family, inspiring art on the wall, and furniture that has been rehabbed from garbage, my apartment is me.
What is the point of this blog anyway? Well I guess I can't even answer that. My hope though, is to help everyone be there own designer. maybe someone will stumble across this, and I can help them see their own potential. If I could inspire people to personalizd their space through design- then I would be happy. And If I could have one person stumble across this blog at 2 am and get a kick out of it, I might be even happier.